Improvement in catafalques



- E. H. PARKER.

catgfalque. v

No. 213,130. Patented Mar-.11, 18:79.

- Iizuenlr ".PEIERB, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASH NGTON D C UNITED 'STA'I'ES PATENT OFFICE;

EDWARD H. PARKER, OF'POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK.

' IMPROVEMENT IN CATAFALQUES'.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,130, dated March 11, 1879; application filed June 7, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. PARKER, M. D., of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in Catafalques, or apparatus for the temporary preservation of dead human bodies, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to the temporary preservation of the bodies of the dead while awaiting interment.

The object thereof is the avoiding of certain disadvantages attending the use of iceboxes, now in use, to obtain ease of transportation and preparation for use of the apparatus, to remove danger in case of suspended animation, and to allow access of friends to the body for the offices of affection.

The invention consists in the new apparatus or catafalque, and in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The following description will enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the apparatus or catafalque, with the cover on one side thrown back to expose the interior. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section at right angles thereto.

The frame of the device is like that of a bedstead, except that two bars instead of one extend from the head-board to the foot-board on each side. These form side pieces, (marked A on drawings,) which are to be attached to the head-board and foot-board B B by such methods as will permit them to be readily taken apart and put together, several of which are now used in the manufacture of bedsteads, and are abundantly sufficient for the purpose. In the drawings the fact of their being removable is expressed by screws, the heads of which are accessible. The side pieces may also be divided in the middle and hinged, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so as to fold up for convenience in transportation.

I have shown two methods of hinging the side pieces, the hinge being-placed on the side in one case, and on the bottom (or top) in the other. Upon the upper side pieces a metal pan, 0, rests, its bottom extending below the level of'the side pieces as far as mayberequired. I have shown the pan extending the entire length of the frame; but it need not be more than one-half as long, and one-third the length would probably in many cases suffice. It may be perforated at its ends, to allow the cold air to flow down more freely.

From one end to the other, at the highest point, a metal rod or wooden bar, D, extends, to support the covers E of the pan. In the bottom one or more openings, terminating in tubes or pipes F, are found. A trough is preferablymade along the lower edges of the pan, to catch the water which condenses on the pan and conduct it to the tubes.

Another metal vessel, Gr, entirely closed, except as mentioned below, and of one or two inches in distan cebetween the upper andlower surface, (in actual use,) rests upon the lower bars or is supported by them. It is watertight, except that it has at one end one or more openings on the upper surface, to which tubes (as in the'drawings or funnel-shaped) are applied, and at the other end an 'openin g just below the upper surface, to which a tube or pipe, H, is applied, passing down below the under surface of the vessel. An escape-pipe for the fluid in the lower vessel may be made at each end thereof, so that it shall not overflow, however far the floor on which the apparatus sits may be from level. This vessel is to be entirely iucased in wood except upon its upper surface 5 and, if necessary, mineral wool or other non-conductor of heat may be placed between the wood and the metal.

In the drawings I have shown the vessel Gr filled with absorbent material 5 but this may be omitted.

The method of use is this: The head-board and foot-board, with lower side pieces, having been put in position, the metallic vessel last described is placed upon them in position. The body, prepared as usual, is placedupon the latter, a head-rest being used, as required. The upper side pieces are then applied, and the upper pan placed in its position. From the tubes on the under side of the pan rubber tubing is fixed, the other end being applied to the corresponding tubes in the vessel below, as in the drawings, or into the funnels, if that shape be used. Ice is now to be put into the upper pan in sufficient quantity. Over this pan athick woolen blanket is to be thrown or wooden covers, lined with proper non-conducting material, may be applied. Another woolen cover may then be thrown over the whole device, and it may be buttoned to the lower side bars, if desirable.

The action is this: By the ice the pan is cooled, and by this the air around the body brought to a temperature that will prevent decomposition for days. The water from the melted ice will flow through the openings and tubes into the lower closed vessel, and thus serve to cool that and the under side of the body lying upon it. As the vessel becomes filled the excess of water will flow out of the tube at the other end of the vessel into a proper receptacle.

By buttoning down the woolen covers the external air will be more completely excluded and the temperature of the body correspondingly reduced.

In construction for actual use the under surface of the upper vessel will be curved or slanted, if necessary, so as to carry any moisture condensing upon it to the sides or ends, where provision will be made to carry it off without falling on the body. Ithas not seem ed necessary to illustrate these in the drawings.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described apparatus, being a catafalque for the temporary preservation of the dead, the same consisting of a suitable frame open at one or more sides, and provided with an upper and a lower cooling-vessel, with space between for the reception of the body, substantially as described.

2. An apparatus or catafalque for temporary preservation of the dead, the same consisting of a frame open at one or more sides, an upper cooling-vessel or ice-receptacle, and a lower cooling-vessel, at a suitable distance below the ice-receptacle, for the reception between them of the body to be preserved, the said lower vessel having a connection with the icereceptacle, and having a suitable outlet relatively arranged to cause a current or flow of the water from the melting of the ice through the cooling-vessel, upon which the body rests, substantially as described.

3. A catafalque or apparatus for temporary preservation of the dead, the same consisting of a frame formed of detachable pieces, and two independent cooling-vessels, adapted to be supported one above the other in saidframe, but detachable therefrom, substantially as de scribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD H. PARKER, M. D.

Witnesses: I

WM. R. WoonIN, HOWARD B. SMITH. 

